World
Should taxpayers subsidize philanthropists?
The Huffington Post carries a rare critique of big-ticket philanthropy. As philanthropists gain more influence and tread on issues previously in the public space, does the taxpayer have to subsidize their view on how public financing should be spent?
The OLPC (should be) Dead, Let Live the Aakash
The OLPC project will launch its third iteration at this years CES, but 6 years after launch it may still not reach the elusive USD 100 target. Meanwhile, a small startup in Canada has orders to ship 2 million of its USD 50 tablets to Indian consumers. It is time the OLPC was put to rest.
Microfinance backlash underlines contradictions of social business
The backlash against microfinance in India has exposed a fundamental contradiction of social businesses – that they are essentially businesses. Private capital may help them grow but it brings with it a strong tendency to turn social businesses from being social to being businesses.
Is their a better dream than the American Dream?
There are at least two ways to measure a society – to what extent is it equal and to what extent is it just. America has failed on both counts. Developing countries, looking to growth must find better ways to protect their own populations from the vagaries of destiny and birth.
BP will pay for the Gulf oil spill, but will the rest?
The true tragedy of the Gulf oil spill is that the political posturing of Obama and Congress will prevent those really responsible from being held accountable.
A literature review of the impact of microfinance
We may only just have seen new studies looking at the impact of microfinance. But the topic is not new. This literature review presents a short selection of studies on microfinance, its context, and its impact on the poor.
Why microsavings might be better
Microsavings seem to do much the same for the poor as microcredit (i.e. smooth consumption and investment). But they might do so at a lower cost, and bring additional benefits as well.
Microfinance is Growing Up
The failure in microfinance has been that it has for too long believed in its own rhetoric of poverty alleviation. Now that research proves otherwise, the debate is no longer about what impact microfinance has on society, but how society can use microfinance as a business.
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